Machine for sewing mattress covers



Feb. 13, 1934. PITTONI 1,947,058

MACHINE FOR SEWING MATTRESS COVERS Filed April 26, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 11m .5

F2- 9 6 ,A N

INVEN TOR. Z ou/sff/ TTO/V/ WAW Feb. 13, 1934. L. E. PITTONIQ 1,947,058

MACHINE FOR SEWING MATTRESS COVERS Filed April 26, 1929 v 3 Sheets-Sheet2 11v VEN TOR. Z OU/J'EPI r 7'0/V/ BY m ZJZ M ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1934.PITTQN] 1,947,058

MACHINE FOR SEWING MATTRESS COVERS Filed April 26, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5\B! INVEN TOR.

" ZOU/JZ/O/TTO/VI BY 0% (WW Q ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1934 MACHINEFOR SEWING MATTRESS COVERS Louis E. Pittoni, Jamaica, N. Y., assignor toThe Home Company, Inc., Rome, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication April 26, 1929. Serial No. 358,240

8 Claims. (01. 112-3) My invention relates in general to machines foroperating on mattresses and relates more particularly to machines forstitching the various edge portions of the mattress ticking or covertogether.

A main object of my invention is the provisio of improved apparatus foreffectively and emciently' sewing mattress covers and particularly thecovers on mattresses of different sizes. A further object of myinvention is the provision of a mattress supporting table of a characterpermitting the use of work performing mechanism in a more eiiicientposition relative thereto than has been possible heretofore. Inasmuch asmy improved apparatus was primarily devised for sewing and/or bindingoperations on the adjacent panel edge portions of a mattress cover andis particularly advantageous for such work, it is described hereinafterin that connection.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,however, and the advantages possessed by it reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I haveillustrated. and described a preferred embodiment of the inven* tion.

Of the drawings: 7

Fig l is a plan view with parts broken away of a mattress stitchingmachine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View with parts broken away of a part of the apparatusduring a pivotal movement;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the guide roll latches;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view partly in section through the carrier when ina position at right angles to that Fig. 1 and with an auxiliary mattresstable in use, the carrier and table being in section on the line 5-5 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevation partly diagrammatic of the stitcher mechanism andtable; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 7 with a portion of thestitcher mechanism broken away.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, Aindicates a stationary platform at one side of which a stitchermechanism J is positioned. A carrier or movable platform C, carrying atable N on which a mattress M is supported, is arranged for movement onthe platform A and mechanism is provided for successively advancing theside portions of the carrier and mattress past the stitcher mechanismand during which movements the stitching operations on the mattress areperformed.

As. shown in Figs. 1-4, the platform A has a vertical guide plate Aextending for a predetermined distance along one side thereof and heldin its upright position by an angle bar A securing the lower portion ofthe plate to the platform. An opening A is formed in the plate adjacentthe stitcher mechanism and through which A plurality of vertical slots AA A and A",

serving as guide roller openings, are formed at points spacedpredetermined distances along the upper edge of the guide plate A. Asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 the rear end of the plate A and the openingA are each provided with a spring latch B consisting of a horizontal barB having an inclined upper surface 13 and a notched portion B at theouter side of the surface B and a stem B connected to the bar andmovable vertically in a socket B under the action of a spring B verticalmovement of the stem being limited by a lug B on the stem moving in anadjacent slot B The spring latches described function to prevent thereturn of guide rollers passing around the end and through the opening Aof the plate.

The carrier C comprises a horizontal rectangular metallic frameconsisting of a plurality of narrow plates 0, C C and C reinforced ateach end by V-shaped plates C In the construction shown 2 and Cdesignate the plates at the opposed sides of the carrier and C and Cdesignate the front and rear end plates, respectively. Brackets D areconnected to the carrier frame bars at points equally spaced fromandadjacent to each corner of the frame. Each bracket D comprises avertical body portion D, an upper arm D projecting horizontally at theframe level and a short lower arm D projecting below the arm D As shownin Figs. 2vand 3 the bracket body portions support a rectangularguideway E consisting of a plurality of inverted channel bars E, E E1and E having their adjacent ends connected to form a continuous guidewaybelow and within the limits of the carrier frame. The lower arms 1) ofthe brackets support a rack F, which extends continuously around thecarrier below the frame bars. Each corner portion F, F

F and F of the rack is curved with a radius corresponding to thehorizontal distance between the pitch line of the rack teeth and thecenter line of the guideway E.

The upper arms of the brackets D are adapted to overhang the guide plateA when in a position alongside the plate and the overhanging endssupport a plurality of guide rollers, which contact with the outer sideof the guide plate at the upper end thereof when in the positionmentioned. Eight of these guide rollers are shown in the constructionillustrated, the rollers G and C1 being on one side, rollers G and G onthe opposite side, rollers G and G on the rear end, and rollers G" and Gon the front end of the carrier.

A plurality of wheels C are symmetrically arranged on the under side ofthe carrier frame and provided with a swiveled connection thereto,thereby supporting the carrier when moved in any direction. The carrierframe, rack and guideway are further connected by brackets C at spacedpoints along the sides of the frame intermediate the brackets D. On thesides and ends of the carrier frame, brackets I are mounted adjacent toand at one side of the brackets D which support the rollers G, G G andG". Rollers-I, I I and I are rotatably mounted in the brackets Iadjacent the corresponding guide rollers G, G etc. and aid in guidingthe carrier during the pivotal movements hereinafter described.

The stitcher mechanism used in the present machine may be of any generaltype of stitcher mechanism well known in the art modified as hereinafterdescribed. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, the stitcher mechanismJ comprises a work plate J an arm J overhanging the work plate andcarrying a needle bar J operatively connected through a clutch J to amotor driven shaft J, a presser foot J and a needle J". The drive shaftJ is connected at its inner end through speed reduction gearing J to avertical shaft J 9 provided at its upper end with a spur gear J The gearJ projects through the opening A into engagement with the rack F asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. A clutch lever J adapted to engageanddisengage the clutch J projects horizontally from the driving mechanismtowards the operator. The forward end of the clutch lever is pivoted forswinging movements horizontally and provided with a friction surface Jwhich is arranged to engage a brake disc J forming a part of thestitcher mechanism drive connections, when the clutch lever is moved.

The platform A is also provided with a bearing block A in which a pivotroller A is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. This roller ispositioned at a point spaced inwardly from the guide plate A. The axisof the roller A is spaced inwardly a distance equal to the radius of thecorner portions of the rack and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the roller isvertically positioned suficiently to fit into the guideway E. Preferablythe spur gear J rack F, guideway E and pivot roller A are located atsubstantially the same level. A segmental track K consisting of a curvedchannel bar K having its web portion above and secured to the platformA, is arranged about the axis of the roller A as a center and with aradius equal to the distance of the axis of the roller I from themeeting point of the guideway axes at the adjacent corner, the channelKthus providing a trackway for the rollers I, I etc. during the pivotalmovements of the carrier.

In the construction illustrated, I have shown an improved form ofmattress supporting table N adapted for use with the carrier describedand constructed and arranged to materially aid the operator inpositioning the mattress edge portions to be stitched on the work plateof the stitcher mechanism. The mattress M is of a well known type andcomprises a fabric casing having top and bottom ticks M and Mrespectively, and side pieces M adapted to be stitched to the top andbottom pieces. The casing is filled with layers of stuffing M above andbelow a layer of enclosed coil springs M In Fig. 2, the mattress isshown with the bottom edges of the side pieces secured to the bottomtick and the top tick being stitched to the upper edges of the sideportions.

The table N on which the mattress is supported consists of a horizontalplate or floor N positioned on and adapted to extend beyond the sidesand ends of the carrier frame. The edge portions of the table plate areconstructed with a vertical flange N having an inclined surface N at itsinner side and a flat upper surface N. The mattress is positioned on thetable with its lower edge portions resting on the peripheral flange Nand its bottom resting on the plate N. The flange is of suiiicientheight to offset the bulging caused by the mattress stufling andsprings, which, when the mattress is positioned on a substantially flatsurface, cause the mattress ticking edge portions to be drawn apart,rendering any stitching operations extremely difiicult. By the presentarrangement the upper surface of the mattress is maintainedsubstantially level and the casing edge portions to be stitched areeasily positioned on the work plate. The mattress table for the largeststandard size of mattress in use at the present time has substantiallythe same dimensions as the carrier frame on which it may be permanentlyor removably mounted in any suitable manner.

When as shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, it is desirable to permanently coverthe stitched edge portions of the mattress with a tape or ribbon, allthe parts are stitched together in one operation. A roll 0 of tape isshown in Fig. 8 positioned adjacent the work plate and arranged to passthrough guide pins 0 and a folder 0 located adjacent the needle J" andby which the tape is folded and positioned around the mattress edgeportions to be stitched. As shown in Fig. 8 the rear portion of the workplate is cut away at an angle at O to aid the operator in positioningthe mattress edge portions under the needle.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described and the carrierslightly to the rear of the position shown in Fig. 1 and a table adaptedto support a full standard size mattress mounted on the carrier, amattress of corresponding size is positioned on the table with its edgeportions resting on the table flange as shown in Fig. 2. The operatorthen positions the adjacent ticking edges on the work plate and startsthe stitcher mechanism and carrier drive mechanism into operation. Thespur gear-rack engagement causes the carrier table and mattress to movelongitudinally past the stitcher mechanism in the direction of the arrowin Fig. l, the guide rollers G and G contacting with the outer side ofthe guide plate A and the stationary roller A engaging the guideway E,and cooperating to maintain the carrier and stitcher mechanism in theproper relative position. The longitudinal movement of the carrier andtable continues until the pivot roller A is at the rear endof theguideway channel E, at which position of the roller A the guide rollerG'is at the front end of the guide plate A and the guide roller G is atthe opening A.

The driving movement continuing, the carrier is moved about the roller Aas a center, the guide rollers G and G passing around the forward end ofthe guide plate and through the opening A respectively, and the roller Ientering the adjacent inner end of the trackway K. The pivotal movementcontinues as shown by the arrows in Fig. 3 and is guided by the roller Iin the trackway K until the guide roller G3 enters the opening A in theguide plate and the guide roller G enters the opening A The spring latchin the opening A prevents the guide roller G from returning to the innerside of the guide plate. The stitching operation on the mattress cornertakes place during the pivotal movement and on the rear end of themattress as the mattress table and carrier are again movedlongitudinally past the stitcher mechanism.

The longitudinal movement continues as before until the pivot roller Ais at the end of the guideway channel E When that point is reached, theguide roller G3 is at the opening A" and the guide roller G is oppositethe opening A The pivotal movement is then repeated with the roller Imoving in the trackway K and the rollers G and G passing throughthe'openings A and A respectively, until the guide roller G enters theopening A and the guide roller G passes over the spring latch at therear end of the guide plate A. The alternate longitudinal and pivotalmovements of the carrier then continue until the remaining side and endof the mattress are stitched. The mattress is then removed and a newmattress of the same size positioned on the table and the cycle ofoperations repeated.

While the mattress stitching machine of my invention has been describedand illustrated for operating on what is known as a standard full sizemattress, it is apparent that the width of the carrier and location ofsome ofv the guide plate openings could be changed to render the machinecapable of operating on mattresses of different widths. In plants wherethe output is sufficiently large, a separate machine may be used foreach size mattress. I desire, however, to provide mechanism for givingthe machine described the capacity for operating on mattresses ofdifferent widths, the change in operation requiring only thesubstitution of a mattress supporting table of a width corresponding tothe width of the mattress to be stitched.

With the carrier in the position illustrated'in Fig. 1, the carrierframe is constructed with a pair of transverse channel bars P slightlyspaced apart at the underside of the frame and arranged to serve as atrackway for a bar P on whichthe mattress table is supported. The bar Pextends partly across the carrier frame and is movably supported in thetrackway on pairs of rollers P adjacent each end. The bar P and rollersP are maintained in their proper position relative to the channels bypairs of vertically pivoted rollers P mounted at each end of the bar andcontacting with the webs of the channels P. 'Secured to the outer sideof the webs of the channels P are a pair of plates Q in which shortvertical notches Q, Q Q and Q are out at spaced points along the loweredge.

As shown in Fig. 5 in which the carrier rear end is moving past thestitcher mechanism, a

block R is secured to the underside of the bar P at the front endthereof and provided with a horizontally extending hole R at its forwardend containing a. compression spring R A pair of cars R projectshorizontally from the block adjacent to and at each side of the hole.The rear end of a trip lever R is pivotally mounted between the ears RThe trip lever is in the form of an inverted U, the front leg R of whichhas a rod R extending transversely therethrough beyond the plates Q. Therear leg R" of the trip lever is formed with a forwardly projecting toeR which is arranged to contact during one of the longitudinal movementsof the carrier with a stop S mounted on the platform A.

This stop S has a vertical rear portion S and a pair of forwardlyprojecting inclined flanges S between which a bell crank lever S ishorizontally pivoted. The lower arm of the lever S extends downwardlythrough a slot S in the platform A and is positioned between a pair ofpins S mounted on a horizontal disc S rotatably mounted at the underside of the platform. A rod S having forked end portions connects thedisc S and the front end of the clutch lever-J as shown in Fig. 1,whereby a partial rotation of the disc effects a disengagement of thestitcher mechanism and drive shaft, the movement of the former beingstopped by the action of the braking surface J on the brake disc J Amattress supporting table of a width corresponding to the size of themattress to be stitched is positioned on the bar P with pins Pprojecting from the upper surface of the bar and fitting intocorresponding recesses N in the under side of the table N. The table isadditionally supported by a plurality of rollers T arranged in series insupporting members T parallel to and at opposite sides of the bar P asshown in Fig. 1. Each of the rollers T projects slightly above the levelof the carrier frame.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, the auxiliarytable and mattress are positioned on the supporting bar P and the barinitially positioned in the channels Q with the rod R held in one of thenotches in the channels Q depending on the width of the mattress to bestitched. As indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 when anintermediate sized table is used the rod R is initially positioned inthe notch Q The rod R is held in the notch Q in the present case by thecompression spring l-t acting on the rear side of the trip lever R Theoperator then starts the machine into operation and as before the side 0of the carrier is passed in front of the stitching mechanism and theedge portions of the mattress stitched together, either with or withoutthe tape illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8.

When that side of the mattress has been stitched,

the carrier passes through the pivotal movement in which the mattresscorner is stitched as heretofore described and the rear end of themattress is then moved longitudinally past the stitcher mechanism.

It will be noted in connection with this movement that the travel of thecarrier rack is necessarily greater than actually required to stitch thecorresponding end of the mattress. The mechanism heretofore describedeffects a relative movement between the table and carrier, so that thetabel will be in the proper position for the approaching pivotal andlongitudinal movements and also disengages the stitcher mechanism anddrive shaft during this relative movement. The rear end of the carrieradvances in front of the Mil stitcher mechanism until the curved cornerpor- 15G tion of the mattress is reached. At this point the front triplever leg R having passed over the stop S is moved out of its positionin the notch Q by the rear leg R contacting with the stop S and isdeflected downwardly into contact with the upper arm of the lever S Theresulting movement of the latter rotates the disc S to unclutch thestitcher mechanism from the drive shaft.

The movement of the carrier frame past the stitcher mechanism continueswhile the bar P', the table and mattress carried thereby remainstationary until the rack corner F is reached. When this point isreached the bar and table are at the opposite end of the channels Q andthe pivotal movement then beginning causes the block R and trip lever Rto move arcuately out of engagement with the stop mechanism. The rod Runder the action of the spring R then engages in the adjacent notch Q tohold the bar and table in their new position. The inner side and frontend of the mattress are then successively advanced in front of thestitching mechanism by alternate longitudinal and pivotal movementsuntil the end of the mattress is reached. The mattress is then removed,the bar P and table reset in the initial position and the cycle ofoperations repated.

My invention is characterized by the simplicity and effectiveness of themachine and of the method of operating the same, by the low initial andoperating costs involved in comparison to previous constructions forthis purpose, and by the use of relatively unskilled labor in operatingthe same. The whole cycle of operations described requires only a shorttime. The unitary drive system and reduction gearing shown permit atimed relation between the stitching mechanism and rate of movement ofthe mattress carrier and efiects a proper spacing of the stitches. Theform of table used advantageously allows the stitcher work plate to bein a horizontal position rather than in the inclined position heretoforenecessary.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I haveillustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my inventionnow known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appendedclaims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may beused to advantage withouta corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A mattress stitching machine comprising in combination with amattress supporting table, a carrier supporting said table, and astitcher mechanism located at one side of said carrier, means for movingsaid carrier and table relative-to said stitcher mechanism, means forguiding said carrier during a longitudinal portion of said movement, andseparate means for guiding said carrier during another portion of saidmovement.

2. A mattress stitching machine comprisingin combination a wheeledcarrier, a mattress supporting table removably mounted on said carrier,a stitcher mechanism located at one side of said carrier, means forlongitudinally and pivotally moving said carrier and table relative tosaid stitcher mechanism including a rack mounted on and extendingcontinuously around said carrier, means for driving said stitchermechanism and rack, a rectangular guideway mounted on said carrier, anda guide roller positioned in said guideway during said longitudinalmovements and acting as a pivot during said pivotal movements.

3. The combination with a mattress supporting table, a carriersupporting said table, and a work performing mechanism located at oneside of said carrier, of means for moving said carrier and tablelongitudinally past said work performing mechanism, means for effectinga pivotal movement of said carrier and table after a predeterminedlongitudinal movement, and means eiTecting a movement of said carrierrelative to said table.

4. A mattress stitching machine capable of operating on mattresses ofvarious sizes comprisingthe combination with a mattress supportingtable, a carrier supporting said table, and a stitcher mechanism locatedat one side of the said carrier, of means for moving said carrier andtable relative to said stitcher mechanism, means effecting a movement ofsaid carrier relative to said table, and means operated by said lastmentioned means for stopping said stitcher mechanism during said lastmentioned movement.

5. In a mattress edge stitching machine, the combination with a stitchermechanism having a horizontally positioned work plate and areciprocating needle, of a mattress supporting table movable relative tosaid stitcher mechanism and having peripheral flanged portions on whichthe mattress edge portions are positioned to overlap said work plate,and means for moving said table along a definite path of movement suchthat said flange portion is always at one side of and definitely spacedaway from the path of needle movement.

6. Mattress sewing apparatus adapted for operation on mattresses ofvarious sizes and comprising a work performing mechanism, means formoving the mattress past the Work performing mechanism in successivelongitudinal movements during which the working operations are performedthereon, and means for efiecting a relative movement between saidmattress and said first mentioned means While maintaining said mattressstationary relative to said Work performing mechanism.

7. Apparatus for connecting adjacent mattress cover sections comprisinga movable supporting structure arranged to support a substantiallyrectangular filled mattress With contiguous unconnected edge portions ofthe mattress cover positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, amechanism for sewing said contiguous cover edge portions, means forcontinuously advancing said supporting structure past said sewingmechanism with said edge portions in position to be operated on, andmeans for guiding said supporting structure during its movementscomprising a longitudinally extending guide plate fixedly positionedbetween said sewing mechanism and said supporting structure, and

guide rollers mounted on said supporting structure arranged to contactwith the side of said guide plate adjacent said sewing mechanism.

8. Apparatus for connecting adjacent mattress cover sections comprisinga movable supporting 143 structure arranged to support a substantiallyrectangular filled mattress with contiguous unconnected edge portions ofthe mattress cover positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, amechanism-for sewing said contiguous cover edge guide rollers mounted onsaid supporting structure arranged to contact with the side of saidguide plate opposite said supporting structure, said guide plate havingopenings formed therein for the entrance and exit of said guide rollers.

LOUIS E. PITTONI.

